V. bad gum regression and huge phobia!

[Rosie10]

I am so embarrassed and anxious - and happy I've found this forum!

I saw an emergency dentist earlier this year for one of my wisdom teeth growing out at an angle and having an abscess on the inside of my cheek from it - she didn't look anywhere else, gave me mouthwash and antibiotics and told me to see a dentist within five days to see about having the tooth removed. Of course I didn't see another dentist and the abscess cleared up quickly.

Apart from that, I haven't seen a dentist since I was 13, I should've had braces but after two bad experiences I refused to go and haven't been since. That was 12 years ago.

One of the times I went to my mums appointment with her and looked up halfway through to see the tissue covered in blood and her in obvious pain. At my next appointment to have a tooth removed I had a delightful heavy handed dentist who not only slipped, scraped my gum with the local anaethetic and ended up injecting it onto my tongue instead, he also slipped with the scraping tool and dug it into my gum - hard!

I'm terrified. I put off going to the emergency dentist for days and only went until I could barely open my mouth, I was sick beforehand (which was lovely when I couldn't open my mouth properly!) and sat shaking in the waiting room.

I have very, very bad gum regression. One of my bottom front teeth is showing the WHOLE front of the root, and the two bottom incisors are down a few mms.

I'm so scared. I also want to phone surgeries and ask if they have any English dentists but worried about insulting anyone! My daughter went recently and the dentist didn't seem to understand anything we said, and I had to clarify what she said with the nurse.

Of course I'm embarrassed and worried about the amount of work needed. I'm worried more than anything of the dentist "slipping"! I hate hate hate the idea of sharp things in/near my mouth after what happened previously.

Sorry for the ramble!

 

[carole]

Hi Rosie10 to the forum.

I don't know where you are in the world but could you try emailing a few dentists practices and explain how you feel about seeing a dentist and tell them how nervous you feel. See what replies you get back and choose one that you like the look and sound of. The first visit is usually for them to have a quick look and maybe take an x ray, so no sharp instruments to be worried about, you can ask them not to use the probe (the pokey tool).

There is a recommend a dentist section on here, that you could have a look through to see if there is anyone recommended where you are. Other than that if you put a rough area of where you wish to see a dentist then someone may know of one on here. We do not need your address.

I hope you manage to find one soon. Once you find a dentist you can communicate with and build up a trusting relationship with things will get a lot easier to deal with.

Good luck let us know how you get on